ALUN Rossiter is convinced his Swindon Robins side will give a better account of themselves when they make their second visit of the season to the Arena Essex Raceway to face Lakeside this evening.

The Robins lost 50-40 to the Hammers on May 18 in difficult circumstances following the death of Lee Richardson just five days earlier, but Rossiter is expecting a much improved display this time around against the side sitting second in the Elite League table.

“We only lost by 10 points last time, but I know we will need to up our game,” he said.

“They are a good side, and they are where they are in the table for a reason, but we will go there confident of getting something.

“For some of our riders Lakeside is not their favourite track, but we have others who go well on it so I think we will be fine.

“They probably have the biggest home advantage in the league, and that is just something we will need to get over.”

Rossiter believes the emotonially charged meeting affected both sets of riders when the two teams met last month, and although he expects Richardson to be at the back of everyone’s mind, the Robins boss is keen for his side to focus on speedway.

“The last time we went there it was a very difficult situation for everybody, and I know a lot of the guys found it hard, but you have to take your hats off to them all for doing what they did that day,” he said.

“Having the ceremony before the meeting, and also Emma and the kids being there, made it hard to concentrate on speedway because there are some things that are more important.

“Lee has gone but he will never be forgotten, and I am sure during the meeting he will be in the back of all of our minds.

“We will always think about him, and that is only right, but I think this time we will go there and be a lot more focussed.”

Rossiter has named Troy Batchelor at number four for tonight’s televised meeting in a bid to get him firing again, and is hoping the Australian and Simon Stead will find top form soon.

“Troy needs a bit of confidence so we have moved him to number four, and he goes well around there so I am sure he will be fine,” he said.

“Jason Doyle will be at six and will partner Nick Morris, which I know they will both be comfortable with as they ride well together.

“Simon had a guest booking for Coventry which means he has had a bit of practice which is good for him, and he needs more meetings just to get his confidence up a bit.”

Elsewhere, three Robins riders made it through to the semi-final stages of Grand Prix qualification for the 2013 series.

Skipper Hans Andersen and Batchelor both scraped through from their qualifier in Tarnow, Poland, on Saturday in a meeting won by Martin Vaculik.

In-form Dane Peter Kildemand snatched the last qualifying place from his meeting in Gustrow, Germany, on eight points, with former Coventry rider Przemyslaw Pawlicki coming out on top with 12.